Martin Lavelle, senior business economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, joins Equipment Finance Connect 2026 to discuss “2026 Market & Funding Outlook” on Monday, May 18, at 1:30 p.m. ET.  

Equipment Finance Connect 2026, which brings together dealers, lenders and technology providers to discuss the equipment finance industry, takes place May 18-19 at the C. Baldwin Hotel in Houston.  

View the full event agenda here. 

Lavelle has more than 20 years of experience with the Chicago Fed’s Detroit branch. His focuses include rural economic development, the auto industry, consumer spending, construction and real estate.  

He regularly contributes to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, which summarizes economic conditions across the Fed’s 12 districts, and is a contributing author to the Chicago Fed’s Midwest and Michigan Economy blogs. He will be speaking at the fourth Equipment Finance Connect in a row.

Lavelle’s session

At Equipment Finance Connect, Lavelle will examine macroeconomic trends shaping the equipment finance market, highlighting both headwinds and opportunities.  

His presentation will address:  

• Current interest rates;  

• Business credit health;  

• Forecasting equipment finance performance; and 

• Assessing credit performance and financing profit margins. 

As the equipment finance industry sees record demand, with total new business volume hitting $11.6 billion in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, building on this positive momentum with critical insights can help dealers and lenders overcome any continuing tariff-related uncertainty. 

Equipment Finance Connect brings together equipment dealers and lenders for two days of networking, technology demonstrations and educational sessions. The event delivers practical strategies and market intelligence to help the industry adapt and compete in today’s evolving economic environment. 

The fourth annual Equipment Finance Connect at the C. Baldwin in Houston May 18-19 is the only event that brings together the equipment industry to share insights, attend discussions on crucial industry topics and network with peers. Learn more about the event and register here.